Austin Butler talks a little less and wears a little more masks in the first promo for him Saturday Night Live hosting debut.
The Elvis star, who continues to play a key role in this year’s awards season, takes center stage at Studio 8H in the promotional footage released ahead of its December 17 holiday episode, which is also the final new episode of the 2022 NBC comedy series. Lizzo is the musical guest of the evening and replaces previously announced artists the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who have to skip due to illness.
from the butler SNL spot shows the actor slowly making his way through the historic studio, looking dapper as always with his hair perfectly coiffed. “Here we go,” Butler says confidently to himself.
However, things soon go awry when the host discovers that he must put on a creepy green mask and Santa hat to transform into a Christmas goblin. “Let’s do this,” he replies playfully.
Butler, 31, started out as a child actor and is known for television credits as The Shannara Chronicles and for movie roles, including The dead do not die and Once upon a time in Hollywood.
However, his breakthrough came earlier this year with the role of cultural icon Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis opposite Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. This week, Butler was nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for the film, following his People’s Choice win earlier this month.
The Hollywood Reporter senior film critic David Rooney praised Butler’s performance in his review: “His stage moves are sexy and hypnotic, his melancholy mama’s-boy-lost quality is swoon-worthy, and he captures the tragic paradox of a phenomenal success story that clings tenaciously to the American Dream. even if it continues to crumble in his hands.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
